What is ECE R90?
UN ECE R90 is United Nations legislation governing the sale of Aftermarket Brake Friction products which include Pads, Shoes, Linings, Discs and Drums. It stipulates that all Brake Friction products manufactured for the aftermarket and sold within the E.U and many other nations must comply with UN ECE R90 standards.
In order to meet these standards, the Brake Friction products must pass a series of tests. These include hot and cold performance tests and heating procedures. Once passed the products can be confidently sold in the market place by the manufacturer knowing they perform as well and as safely as the original equipment (OE).
Aftermarket Brake Friction products that pass UN ECE R90 testing will have an “E” mark on the product with a number next to it. This number denotes which approval authority has tested and approved the product. The following list is an example of the different European countries and their corresponding “E” number.
- E11 – United Kingdom
- E1 – Germany
- E4 – Netherlands
- E9 – Spain
This list is not exhaustive, as more countries adopt the legislation. There is no advantage or gain in having any particular “E” number on the product. This only denotes the country where the product was approved. The legislation is the same for any country signed up to UN ECE R90.
Please note:- Due to the legislation being UN governed and not EU governed, the United Kingdom (E11) Approval Status remains unchanged post Brexit.